Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn!

I decided to make these Easter Pails for my family, my in-laws, and my co-workers.

These make for great personalized gifts for any holiday or get together, and they are cheap enough to make that you can do a bundle of them!

I found everything I needed at The Dollar Tree and Micheal's craft store.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS :

1 - Set up your pails / baskets / etc
2 - For this project you will need: pails, ribbon, chocolate, popcorn, candy confetti, and paint.
3 - Get your chocolate and your popcorn ready in separate bowls.

4 - Melt your chocolate in microwave friendly dishes. I started at 2 minutes each, then stirred.
5 - I mixed butter popcorn & white cheddar together then drizzled the 2 different colored choc. over!
6 - I painted the names onto each pail to give it a customized, personal, look :)

7 - Stick your popcorn into the freezer or fridge to chill for a half hour.
8 - Bag up your popcorn, tie it with a bow and stick it in a pail.
9 - Use a few ribbons to tie on the handle of the pail or bucket to give it a finished look.

D-I-Y {Custom Pictures}

What You Will Need:

• Picture frames
• Construction paper
• Glue (or hot glue gun)
• Paint or a Sharpie
• Scraps of fabric
• Accessories (diamonds, buttons, etc)

The picture on the left says "Merrill" which is my new last name. I started off with a black picture frame from Family Dollar. I love to scrap book so instead of just any set of construction paper, I had a book of scrapping paper - which had fancier designs and easy pop out letters & designs. I cut a piece of paper to fit the frame. Then I took my scrap fabric (which I actually used to revamp a lamp shade today too, tutorial & pics later to come) and I used my hot glue and applied it to the paper. Then I popped out the little letters M-E-R-R-I-L-L from my scrapping book (if you dont have easy pop out letters or something similar, you could cut them yourself, or even paint them onto the fabric). Then with little diamonds I used to glue gun to stick those in place to give the picture a nice accent. 

For the picture on the left that says "Live, Love, Laugh" I started with a 3 piece frame from The Dollar Tree! So yes, this was only $1! I cut 3 pieces of construction paper and with a nice black sharpie, I just used cursive to write what I wanted each frame to say. Very easy and very cheap!!

The pictures on the bottom right have bad lighting, but basically I just placed a piece of construction paper behind each picture just to accent the colors in my living room, blue and green. And the "Welcome To Our Home" picture was made similar to the first one. I started off with a large, hanging, sign, and just cut pieces of construction paper, which I used my hot glue gun to glue into place. I also used extra fabric and a few accent diamonds to tie everything together. I used a black sharpie to write what I wanted it to say - you may want to paint it though for a more authentic look. But I love everything so far, and it was fast and easy!!

Do It Yourself Wedding Crafts!

I haven't had internet for a couple weeks, but I am back now. With that said, while I was away and had no contact with the cyber world I made sure that I did many awesome things for my wedding - which is coming up in just 19 days!!!!!

These are all Do-It-Yourself crafts that I have made with items from The Dollar Tree, Building 19, Michael's Craft Store, Joanne's Fabrics, Walmart & Staples. Here you go - any questions email/write me.

Important:

Make sure you have a Hot Glue Gun and Glue sticks for these projects - at Walmart $4.99

I also used alot of Vellum Paper ( which is like Tracing Paper) - at Staples $11.99/package

I also used alot of Plain White Paper from my home computer, I used Microsoft Works ( I dont have Word)

and I also made sure to download awesome fonts from http://www.dafont.com/ before I started!

Alot of Different Color/Shaped Ribbons - from Walmart, Michaels, or Joann's for $.99-$4.99/each

V.I.P Head Table Numbers

( Which I am using for my Parent/Sibling tables )

-Large Corinthian Candles (which I purchased for $1.00 each at Dollar Tree)

-Clean the Candles to ensure the glue will stick

-Print out your Design from your home computer/printer onto the Vellum Paper

-Wrap the vellum paper around the candle & use the hot glue gun to glue on

My candles have the table number and an exerp from the Bible -

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres"

Aswell as, "Felicty & Paul Merrill, August 29th 2010"

Table Number Candle Votives

-Clean the Votives to ensure the glue will stick properly

-Print out what you want the candles to say onto the vellum paper (which is like tracing paper)

-Fit the vellum paper around the candle, cut, and glue on with a hot glue gun

(one strip of glue on the candle and then where the paper overlaps is just fine)

-Then glue the ribbon around the bottom of the candle

-Glue the fancy damask paper clips (or whatever you are using) onto each candle

-Print out table numbers & use a paper cutter to cut exact size for each one

My candles say - "Thank You for Sharing Our Special Day,

on this Sunday of August the 29th 2010, Mrs. and Mr. Felicity and Paul Merrill"

Personalized Candle Votives

-Clean the Votives to ensure the glue will stick properly

-Print out what you want the candles to say onto the vellum paper

-Fit the vellum paper around the candle, cut, and glue on

-Tie little bows with the Ribbon & glue onto the candles

-Glue on little diamond accents or other embellishments

My personalized candles say - "Felicity and Paul, August 29, 2010, Mr. and Mrs. Merrill"

Designed in a repeated pattern using different fonts & colors on each line.

Bride & Groom Candle

-Clean the Votives to ensure the glue will stick properly

-Print out what you want the candles to say onto the vellum paper once again

-Fit the vellum paper around the candle, cut, and glue on

-Cut a strip of fancy Ribbon going upwards on the overlap of the paper

-Glue on another piece of Fancy vertical Ribbon

-Glue on more accent pieces - I used diamonds!

My Bride candle says, "Bride, Felicity Eliza"

My Groom candle says, "Groom, Paul Francis"

Head Table Candles

( one for the Bride's Maid table & one for the Groom's Men table )

-Large cylinder Vase perchused at The Dollar Tree for $1.00/each

-Cleaned the glass, printed on the vellum paper, glued onto the Vase

-Filled each Vase with Purple Sand which I got at The Dollar Tree for $1.00/each

Also stuck in a beautiful Tapered Candle from The Dollar Tree for $1.00/package of 4

-Then I glued on a designer ribbon around each Vase

These candles say, "Mr. and Mrs. Felicity and Paul Merrill"

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres"

"August 29th 2010"

Program Scrolls

-Use fancy paper. I bought this paper above at Staples for $9.99/package

( the front has a damask footer/header and the back is a repeated damask pattern )

-Design a personalized Program which includes the bridal party or the Food Menu

( on mine I included my bridal party and my ceremony reading aswell as our monogram)

-Print onto this paper from your home computer or have a friend help if you aren't too saavy

-Roll into iddy biddy scrolls and wrap one or two pieces of ribbon around & tie shut

These are a great touch to any table or ontop of a charger plate & napkin!

Personalized Confetti

-You will need a HOLE PUNCHER for this project

( I used a 1.50'' inch hole puncher which I purchased at Joann's Fabrics for $9.99 )

-I did a repeated, spaced out pattern on my computer (Microsoft Word or Works will do)

-Use different fonts and different font colors & Print out onto the Vellum paper

-Then use the hole puncher to cut out each piece! Voila! You got confetti!

Ring Bearer's Pillow

-Cheap pillow from The Dollar Tree for $1.00

( I cut off the ribbon that was already around it. I know! Who would have thought!? )

-Use a beautiful thick Patterned Ribbon (or fabric) and glue around the pillow

-Then take a slimmer ribbon (or fabric) and glue ontop of the prior ribbon

-Glue an embellishment into the center of each side of pillow

( I used a large diamond piece that I actually cut from old flip-flops haha

But you could use your last name Initial or anything you'd like )

Personalized Guest Book

-Guest book purchased at Joann's Fabrics for $14.99 (came in nice box w/attached pen)

( Also - this book came with the tooling & heart embellishment at the top so I was lucky)

-Glue onto the bottom of the book (open & glue inside aswell as a continued pattern from outside)

the Fancy thick Ribbon you used for Ring pillow & then the smaller thin ribbon

-Then wrap each piece of ribbon around the pen and glue that on aswell to match!

-Glue on an Initial embellishment or Jewel. I used an "M" for my new last name, Merrill.

Which I puchased a package of alphabets from Joann's on clearance for a buck!!!!

Personalized Card Box

-Purchase a cheap or a fancy card box anywhere

( I got mine already satin, with diamond accent top at Joann's for $24.99)

-Glue on the same fancy thick & thin ribbon or fabric you used for your ring pillow & guest book

around the center of the box (going all the way around the box)

-Place your Initial onto the front & use the hot glue gun to glue

( I got my letter at Michael's for $1.99 I think and just kept it white without painting it )

-Stick a fancy bow, ribbon, or fake matching flowers ontop if you want

Main Flower Girl's Bouquet

This bouquet will be used by my step-daughter,

she is too young to be a bride's maid but to old to carry a flower basket.

And to be quite honest, I couldn't afford another $50-100 bouquet from my Florist.

All I did was purchase 3 fake purple roses from Michaels at $1.19/each

-Cut all the leaves off of the stems (you will glue them back on later)

-Wrap the 3 flowers together with fancy ribbon (and glue on together)

-Use tooling & other thin ribbon to make 2 bows and tie (aswell as glue onto bouquet)

-Once my bouquet was done I glued the leaves back on, at just the top of the bouquet as you can see.

By all means, if you cannot afford a florist you could do this with all of your bouquets.

These are my Bride's Maids bouquets that I purchased from a florist

Here is Most of my matching Wedding Decor

As you can see I went with a Damask black & white pattern with Purple accents

I had a blast using my home computer printing on the Vellum paper,

and I always used different designs, and different colored fonts also -

which I placed on different sized candles and glass vases.

You can do the same to give your wedding a personalized feel, for cheap!!

I also made a ton of personalized wine glasses as Gifts for my Bride's Maids and other people who helped me with this wedding - my Justice of the Peace, Photographer, Cake Designer, etc.

Pictures and Post next time ;)

Team Bride

So over the weekend my Bridesmaids and I decided to head over to Michael's Crafts and pick up some t-shirts and iron ons to make 'TEAM BRIDE' shirts. Which they'll wear for my bridal shower in 2 weeks and probably half way through the wedding reception when they change out of their dresses... here are the pics.

My Hand-made Escort Cards

So this morning was our cake testing. PJ asked to stay home because he worked 60 hours this week and didn't have a day off yet and wanted to sleep in. So I told him that if he didn't go that he had no say in cake design or flavor lol, which works for me cause we couldn't agree anyways haha. So I met my mom at Walmart, cashed my check and then we went to Starbucks. We both ordered black cherry frappacino's and sat down. My appointment was at 10:00 am, 10:15 rolled by and I tried to call my cake designer and got the voicemail. I figured she probably just forgot but ended up that her daughter was sick and she had left me an email, but because I never check my email I didnt get it. Ohwell. A little miscommunication on both our ends so we just rescheduled. Since my mom drove up a half hour and was in the area we decided to do a little shopping. We went over to Joanne's Fabrics and I ended up buying 150 White card sheets, glitter glue, and some vellum papers with cute little love phrases on each. After saying goodbye to my lovely mother I sat at my dining room table for approximately 5 hours making my escort cards. Luckily the photo department at work let me borrow their paper cutter so it made things easy for me....

Here is how I made my escort cards!

First I cut 60 foldable plain, white cards.

Then I cut 60 smaller, cream, matted pieces of paper.

I then glued the matted paper ontop of

the plain paper for a layered effect.

Then I glued a piece of vellum paper,

which had a different love quote on each - into the escort cards.

Then I took a black pen & hand-drew swirls onto each card.

I did 4 different designs to total a count of 60 escort cards.

I then took my purple and silver glitter glue and did the designs.

Then I decided to go through them all and

 put a silver stripe down them also.

They actually look even more beautiful in person.

The silver sparkles just like diamonds, which I love.

Now they are drying on my dining room table.

As soon as I get the wedding replies in the mail,

I will tweek my seating chart a bit and then

write in the names and table numbers onto each.

And maybe this week, since I have alot of paper left over

I will hand-make all the Table number cards also.

Now.... how I sat that long and did such a great job when I am totally miserable & PMSing, do not ask, cause I have no clue. Maybe by the glory of God! He gave me the patience and creativity I needed, if just for 5 hours - to do what I needed to get done. I also bought the cake knife & spatula and my tiara, which I will post pictures of tomorrow. Right now I am going to get offline and lay down in bed and watch some tv. My back is killing me and I need to rest before another long week at work..... night <3

Food & Favors

A Weekend in Bride hell

    

Okay, well first. Let's just say that instead of spending $200 buying invitations my mother decided to pick some "do it yourself" ones up at Michael's craft store. First, I was very worried that I wouldnt like them, second I was worried it would be too hard (as computer & web design genius I am, I still worried.) I got to my mom's house early Saturday morning with my stepdaughter Aliana. To my surprise, the invitations were gorgeous, they came with easy instructions, and I was very excited. We ran into a few problems with the printer and the program that you have to use to create the wording, but overall it only took me about 3 hours to print 80 invitations and 80 reply cards. After that- my mother tied on all the ribbons and then we ran out to the craft store to buy some stuff for the favors.

My mother had gotten about 50 little glass candle votives. We decided to go with two different color purple ribbons and lots of bling bling. We also got little charms that say "Thank You" and "Love" It was like an assembly line in my mother's dining room haha. Aliana cut the ribbon, Melonie (whos like a second mom to me and my step-mother-in-law) glued the ribbons on the votives, my friend Lauren placed the charms on the ribbon, and then I glued the jewels & charms onto the votives and my mom put the candle in the votives and boxed them up!!! She also ordered another 60 more that we will be making this weekend aswell, cant wait. I actually had a blast. Except for being Miss Sticky Fingers. And getting bit by a bug outside right before we went into the craft store- causing my eyelid to swell up like a balloon :( So there is the "FAVOR" part of the title... here comes the food part...

On the trip home from the craft store my mom decided to stop at McDonalds to torture me. I gave in & had the 2 cheeseburger meal, large with fries and coke. I was very ashamed of myself that night and couldnt believe I gave into temptation. 13 lbs down & my first time in 5 weeks. Not only that but PJ decided to cook on the grill all weekend. So not only did I have McDonalds but overall I had 2 cheeseburgers and a few hotdogs aswell. So now Im really looking forward to Monday start & get back into the grind of the things I have been working hard on- eating right & walking.

Anyways- its late and Ive had a long weekend- toodles.